Judge commends cyclist for his bravery in clinging onto car door tostop drunk driver

Well done that man!
QUOTE:
A judge has commended a cyclist for his bravery after he was hurt as he clung onto a car door to try and stop a drunk driver.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Fabio Veracruz sustained minor injuries after he was showered in broken glass after the motorist, Martin Davis, crashed into a post.

The incident happened on City Walls Road in Worcester at around 2am on 5 September, reports Worcester News (link is external).

Davis, a chef who had been furloughed by his employers, was more than three times over the drink-driving limit following a night out with colleagues from the hospitality industry.

The 42 year old, who admitted dangerous driving and drink driving, had no recollection of the crash, which happened after Mr Veracruz had spotted him driving the wrong way down the dual carriageway road amd (SIC) decided to follow him on his bike.

The cyclist knocked on the car’s window and shouted at the driver to try and make Davis stop, and then opened the door and attempted to apply the handbrake.

Alexander Barbour, prosecuting, said that Davis made “no response� and drove off at a speed that Mr Veracruz, clinging to the vehicle, estimated at 20mph, before crashing into the post.

In mitigation, Julia Powell said that the incident was “completely out of character� and that Davis has now given up drinking.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said: “Mr Veracruz, thankfully, was not more seriously injured having done the public spirited thing and put himself at considerable risk to apprehend a dangerous driver.�

He told Davis: “You were totally incapable. The fact you say you don’t recall anything of this isn’t mitigation – quite the opposite – it’s aggravation.�

Referring to Mr Veracruz, the judge said: “He actually thought you had passed out behind the wheel of the car. In fact you were extremely drunk and probably gave the same outward impression.�

The judge told Davis that after the cyclist had tried to engage the handbrake, “What you did was to put the car in gear and drive off, travelling in the correct direction but with Mr Veracruz standing on the sill of the car with the door open, supporting himself with one hand on the roof and one on the top of the door.

“You drove in such a way that the door on your side of the car struck a pole, closing it on Mr Veracruz who thankfully has not suffered much more serious injuries as a result of the door shutting and the glass in the window breaking.�

After the crash. Mr Veracruz took the car keys and threw them on the ground, telling Davis to get out of the car to await the arrival of police.

Sentencing Davis to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years – a custodial sentence might have been handed down were it not for the impact of coronavirus on the prison system – the judge said his driving was “plainly dangerous� and that he had “disregarded repeated warnings about your driving from Mr Veracruz.�

He added that had he believed Davis had driven into the pole on purpose to try and dislodge Mr Veracruz, the result of the hearing would have been different.

Davis was also ordered to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £340 costs and a victim surcharge of £900, as well as £500 in compensation to Mr Veracruz.

https://road.cc/content/news/cyclist...-driver-279315

On 08/12/2020 14:19, wrote:
Well done that man!
QUOTE:
A judge has commended a cyclist for his bravery after he was hurt as he clung onto a car door to try and stop a drunk driver.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Fabio Veracruz sustained minor injuries after he was showered in broken glass after the motorist, Martin Davis, crashed into a post.

The incident happened on City Walls Road in Worcester at around 2am on 5 September, reports Worcester News (link is external).

Davis, a chef who had been furloughed by his employers, was more than three times over the drink-driving limit following a night out with colleagues from the hospitality industry.

The 42 year old, who admitted dangerous driving and drink driving, had no recollection of the crash, which happened after Mr Veracruz had spotted him driving the wrong way down the dual carriageway road amd (SIC) decided to follow him on his bike.

So he too was then going in the wrong direction on a dual-carriageway?

What authorisation did he have for that vigilantism?

Obviously, certain sorts of police driver (not all of them) might have
that authority in an emergency, but a passing cyclist?

Would it be alright if a civilian car-driver, seeing a cyclist driving
on the wrong carriageway, or the wrong way in a one way street, turned
round to follow him and committed the same offence in an effort to stop
or apprehend the cyclist?

If not, why now?

The cyclist knocked on the car’s window and shouted at the driver to try and make Davis stop, and then opened the door and attempted to apply the handbrake.

While the car was moving, the wrong way along a dual carriageway, with
the clear risk of a vehicle comming the other way?

Seriously?

Was that cyclist just mad?

Alexander Barbour, prosecuting, said that Davis made “no response� and drove off at a speed that Mr Veracruz, clinging to the vehicle, estimated at 20mph, before crashing into the post.

In mitigation, Julia Powell said that the incident was “completely out of character� and that Davis has now given up drinking.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said: “Mr Veracruz, thankfully, was not more seriously injured having done the public spirited thing and put himself at considerable risk to apprehend a dangerous driver.�

He told Davis: “You were totally incapable. The fact you say you don’t recall anything of this isn’t mitigation – quite the opposite – it’s aggravation.�

Referring to Mr Veracruz, the judge said: “He actually thought you had passed out behind the wheel of the car. In fact you were extremely drunk and probably gave the same outward impression.�

The judge told Davis that after the cyclist had tried to engage the handbrake, “What you did was to put the car in gear and drive off, travelling in the correct direction but with Mr Veracruz standing on the sill of the car with the door open, supporting himself with one hand on the roof and one on the top of the door.

“You drove in such a way that the door on your side of the car struck a pole, closing it on Mr Veracruz who thankfully has not suffered much more serious injuries as a result of the door shutting and the glass in the window breaking.�

After the crash. Mr Veracruz took the car keys and threw them on the ground, telling Davis to get out of the car to await the arrival of police.

Sentencing Davis to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years – a custodial sentence might have been handed down were it not for the impact of coronavirus on the prison system – the judge said his driving was “plainly dangerous� and that he had “disregarded repeated warnings about your driving from Mr Veracruz.�

He added that had he believed Davis had driven into the pole on purpose to try and dislodge Mr Veracruz, the result of the hearing would have been different.

Davis was also ordered to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £340 costs and a victim surcharge of £900, as well as £500 in compensation to Mr Veracruz.

https://road.cc/content/news/cyclist...-driver-279315

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 2:19:52 PM UTC, wrote:
Well done that man!
QUOTE:
Karl Jones 7th December 7:23 am
User ID: 2163132
14 What have these scum drivers got to do to get a jail sentence that reflects the crime? Not even banned for life or jailed.
F u c k i n g joke.
Pippi Longstocking 11 hrs ago
User ID: 2022788
2 Well done Mr Veracruz - brave and risky to take such responsibility but who knows what might have happened if he had not managed to stop Martin Davis who is simply an irresponsible imbecile.

Quite - he might have killed someone if not stopped by the cyclist:

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news...-crash-driver/

On 08/12/2020 17:50, JNugent wrote:
On 08/12/2020 14:19, wrote:
Well done that man!
QUOTE:
A judge has commended a cyclist for his bravery after he was hurt as
he clung onto a car door to try and stop a drunk driver.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Fabio Veracruz sustained minor
injuries after he was showered in broken glass after the motorist,
Martin Davis, crashed into a post.

The incident happened on City Walls Road in Worcester at around 2am on
5 September, reports Worcester News (link is external).

Davis, a chef who had been furloughed by his employers, was more than
three times over the drink-driving limit following a night out with
colleagues from the hospitality industry.

The 42 year old, who admitted dangerous driving and drink driving, had
no recollection of the crash, which happened after Mr Veracruz had
spotted him driving the wrong way down the dual carriageway road amd
(SIC) decided to follow him on his bike.

So he too was then going in the wrong direction on a dual-carriageway?

Where did you read that? you can follow someone on the correct side of a
dual-carriageway
and where do you suggest is it stated, that he was on his bike when he
tried to open the door and apply the hand brake?


What authorisation did he have for that vigilantism?

Citizens Arrest
( https://www.westminstersecurity.co.u...arrest-uk-law/ )



Obviously, certain sorts of police driver (not all of them) might have
that authority in an emergency, but a passing cyclist?

Would it be alright if a civilian car-driver, seeing a cyclist driving
on the wrong carriageway, or the wrong way in a one way street, turned
round to follow him and committed the same offence in an effort to stop
or apprehend the cyclist? More guesswork!

If not, why now?

The cyclist knocked on the car’s window and shouted at the driver to
try and make Davis stop, and then opened the door and attempted to
apply the handbrake.

While the car was moving, the wrong way along a dual carriageway, with
the clear risk of a vehicle comming the other way?

Seriously?

Was that cyclist just mad? No, Just public spirited - the Judge agreed!

Alexander Barbour, prosecuting, said that Davis made “no response� and
drove off at a speed that Mr Veracruz, clinging to the vehicle,
estimated at 20mph, before crashing into the post.

In mitigation, Julia Powell said that the incident was “completely out
of character� and that Davis has now given up drinking.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said: “Mr Veracruz, thankfully, was not more
seriously injured having done the public spirited thing and put
himself at considerable risk to apprehend a dangerous driver.�

He told Davis: “You were totally incapable. The fact you say you don’t
recall anything of this isn’t mitigation – quite the opposite – it’s
aggravation.�

Referring to Mr Veracruz, the judge said: “He actually thought you had
passed out behind the wheel of the car. In fact you were extremely
drunk and probably gave the same outward impression.�

The judge told Davis that after the cyclist had tried to engage the
handbrake, “What you did was to put the car in gear and drive off,
travelling in the correct direction but with Mr Veracruz standing on
the sill of the car with the door open, supporting himself with one
hand on the roof and one on the top of the door.

“You drove in such a way that the door on your side of the car struck
a pole, closing it on Mr Veracruz who thankfully has not suffered much
more serious injuries as a result of the door shutting and the glass
in the window breaking.�

After the crash. Mr Veracruz took the car keys and threw them on the
ground, telling Davis to get out of the car to await the arrival of
police.

Sentencing Davis to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two
years – a custodial sentence might have been handed down were it not
for the impact of coronavirus on the prison system – the judge said
his driving was “plainly dangerous� and that he had “disregarded
repeated warnings about your driving from Mr Veracruz.�

He added that had he believed Davis had driven into the pole on
purpose to try and dislodge Mr Veracruz, the result of the hearing
would have been different.

Davis was also ordered to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and pay
£340 costs and a victim surcharge of £900, as well as £500 in
compensation to Mr Veracruz.

https://road.cc/content/news/cyclist...-driver-279315

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 7:31:44 PM UTC, colwyn wrote:

Was that cyclist just mad? No, Just public spirited - the Judge agreed!

The judge also awarded him £500 in compensation for his bravery and sense of public duty in stopping the criminal driver before he killed someone..

Top man!

On 08/12/2020 19:31, colwyn wrote:
On 08/12/2020 17:50, JNugent wrote:
On 08/12/2020 14:19, wrote:
Well done that man!
QUOTE:
A judge has commended a cyclist for his bravery after he was hurt as
he clung onto a car door to try and stop a drunk driver.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Fabio Veracruz sustained minor
injuries after he was showered in broken glass after the motorist,
Martin Davis, crashed into a post.

The incident happened on City Walls Road in Worcester at around 2am
on 5 September, reports Worcester News (link is external).

Davis, a chef who had been furloughed by his employers, was more than
three times over the drink-driving limit following a night out with
colleagues from the hospitality industry.

The 42 year old, who admitted dangerous driving and drink driving,
had no recollection of the crash, which happened after Mr Veracruz
had spotted him driving the wrong way down the dual carriageway road
amd (SIC) decided to follow him on his bike.

So he too was then going in the wrong direction on a dual-carriageway?

Where did you read that? you can follow someone on the correct side of a
dual-carriageway

That in itself is possible.

But it is not possible to try to stop the vehicle, open a door of the
vehicle and attempt to remove the ignition key whilst on the opposite
carriageway, anything up to forty feet away.

Your turn... try to wriggle out of that.

and where do you suggest is it stated, that he was on his bike when he
tried to open the door and apply the hand brake?

The fact that the vehicle weas *moving*?

Â*What authorisation did he have for that vigilantism?

Citizens Arrest
( https://www.westminstersecurity.co.u...arrest-uk-law/ )

That does not give permission to drive or ride in tbwrong direction on a
carriageway of a dual-carriageway.

If you can prove different, here's your opportunity to cite the relevant
legislation: ...............

Obviously, certain sorts of police driver (not all of them) might have
that authority in an emergency, but a passing cyclist?

Would it be alright if a civilian car-driver, seeing a cyclist driving
on the wrong carriageway, or the wrong way in a one way street, turned
round to follow him and committed the same offence in an effort to
stop or apprehend the cyclist?

QUOTE: "More guesswork!"

You forged that.

I did NOT say it.

If not, why now?

Mea culpa. That should have been "If not, why not?".

The cyclist knocked on the car’s window and shouted at the driver to
try and make Davis stop, and then opened the door and attempted to
apply the handbrake.

All from the opposite carriageway, according to "colwyn".

And he wonders why he isn't being taken seriously.

While the car was moving, the wrong way along a dual carriageway, with
the clear risk of a vehicle comming the other way?

Seriously?

Was that cyclist just mad?

No, Just public spirited - the Judge agreed!

More forgery.

I did NOT write that last bit, either.

[ ... ]

On 09/12/2020 02:21, JNugent wrote:
On 08/12/2020 19:31, colwyn wrote:
On 08/12/2020 17:50, JNugent wrote:
On 08/12/2020 14:19, wrote:

The 42 year old, who admitted dangerous driving and drink
driving, had no recollection of the crash, which happened after
Mr Veracruz had spotted him driving the wrong way down the dual
carriageway road amd (SIC) decided to follow him on his bike.

So he too was then going in the wrong direction on a
dual-carriageway?

Where did you read that? you can follow someone on the correct side
of a dual-carriageway

That in itself is possible.

But it is not possible to try to stop the vehicle, open a door of the
vehicle and attempt to remove the ignition key whilst on the
opposite carriageway, anything up to forty feet away.

Your turn... try to wriggle out of that.

and where do you suggest is it stated, that he was on his bike when
he tried to open the door and apply the hand brake?

The fact that the vehicle weas *moving*?

You have this idea that the cyclist was riding alongside a moving car
and managed to open a door and lean in... Therein lies a very
significant practical problem even you should be able work out with a
bit of thought.

On the other hand, knowing you have no grasp of practical matters, try
reading the sentence following the one containing the word 'stop'. It
contains another fact.

On Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 9:35:09 AM UTC, TMS320 wrote:

You have this idea that the cyclist was riding alongside a moving car
and managed to open a door and lean in.

Is that the same cyclist that was awarded £500 by the judge for stopping a drunken driver in his tracks?
Top bloke.

On 09/12/2020 09:35, TMS320 wrote:
On 09/12/2020 02:21, JNugent wrote:
On 08/12/2020 19:31, colwyn wrote:
On 08/12/2020 17:50, JNugent wrote:
On 08/12/2020 14:19, wrote:

The 42 year old, who admitted dangerous driving and drink
driving, had no recollection of the crash, which happened after
Mr Veracruz had spotted him driving the wrong way down the dual
carriageway road amd (SIC) decided to follow him on his bike.

So he too was then going in the wrong direction on a
dual-carriageway?

Where did you read that? you can follow someone on the correct side
of a dual-carriageway

That in itself is possible.

But it is not possible to try to stop the vehicle, open a door of the
Â*vehicle and attempt to remove the ignition key whilst on the
opposite carriageway, anything up to forty feet away.

Your turn... try to wriggle out of that.

and where do you suggest is it stated, that he was on his bike when
he tried to open the door and apply the hand brake?

The fact that the vehicle weas *moving*?

You have this idea that the cyclist was riding alongside a moving car
and managed to open a door and lean in... Therein lies a very
significant practical problem even you should be able work out with a
bit of thought.

He was doing it from forty feet away on the opposite carriageway, with
his arms stretched across the centre reservation?

Someone else has already pointed that out.

rolls eyes

On the other hand, knowing you have no grasp of practical matters, try
reading the sentence following the one containing the word 'stop'. It
contains another fact.

Where was that, in the huge bit you have (for some reason) decided to snip?

On 09/12/2020 11:05, wrote:
On Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 9:35:09 AM UTC, TMS320 wrote:

You have this idea that the cyclist was riding alongside a moving car
and managed to open a door and lean in.

Is that the same cyclist that was awarded £500 by the judge for stopping a drunken driver in his tracks?
Top bloke.

TMS's Theory: The cyclist didn't manage to stop the car.

Mason's Theory: The cyclist did manage to stop the car.

Neither of them seem sure about whether this was done (or not done) by
getting up close and personal or by staying on the opposite carriageway
of the dual-carriageway road.